System and method for facilitating installation of user nodes in fixed wireless data network

ABSTRACT

A mobile application for facilitating installation of the user nodes in a fixed wireless network utilizes augmented reality to provide location, usage, and recommendation information about nearby service nodes. A camera of the mobile computing device captures image data depicting the surrounding area, which is displayed on a touchscreen display of the mobile computing device with graphical elements including icons and textual information overlaid on the captured image data in different positions and with different visual characteristics based on geometric information for the mobile computing device and the surrounding area, the relative position of nearby service nodes with respect to the mobile computing device, and information about the service nodes such as typical usage and/or whether the service node is recommended or not. A virtual antenna is also overlaid on the image data, and an image depicting the virtual antenna as it would look once installed is generated and stored.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/653,070, filed on Apr. 5, 2018, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Internet service providers (ISPs) have historically used a number ofdifferent technologies in their subscriber or access networks to delivernetwork connectivity to premises such as homes, multidwelling units, andbusinesses. Initially premises were connected via dial-up connectionsover POTS lines, or ISDN. Often businesses used T-1 to T-3 connections.

Nowadays, DSL, cable and optical fiber networks are common in urban andmetropolitan areas to provide network access.

Fixed wireless network access is another option in some areas. ISPsproviding the wireless network access can transmit and receive data toand from user nodes (usually installed at premises including buildingssuch as homes, apartment buildings or office buildings, among otherexamples) as radio waves via transmission towers. This has beentypically used in rural areas where cable and optical fiber networks arenot available.

Recently, systems have been proposed to utilize high frequency wirelessdata networks, typically operating in the 10 GHz to 300 GHz band forcommunications between service nodes and user nodes. This spectral bandencompasses millimeter wavelengths (mm-wave) that are typicallydescribed as covering the 30 GHz to 300 GHz frequency band.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Fixed wireless access networks require user nodes to be installed at thepremises. Installation of the user nodes involves finding optimalplacement within the premises: installation height and directionalalignment (pointing toward a specific service node), among otherconsiderations.

Additionally, it is often desirable to produce mockups, or imagesdepicting the user node installation, in order to communicate how theuser node will look once it is installed and also to show installationtechnicians where the user nodes should be installed, among otherbenefits.

The presently disclosed system includes a mobile application forfacilitating the installation of the user nodes. The mobile applicationexecutes on a mobile computing device (e.g. a smartphone or tablet) andutilizes augmented reality technology to provide information aboutnearby service nodes, including location information and usageinformation. Installation recommendations are also provided.

A camera of the mobile computing device captures image data depictingthe surrounding area, which is displayed on a touchscreen display of themobile computing device. Graphical elements including icons and textualinformation are overlaid on the captured image data in differentpositions and with different visual characteristics based on geometricinformation for the mobile computing device and the surrounding area,the relative position of nearby service nodes with respect to the mobilecomputing device, and information about the service nodes such astypical usage and/or whether the service node is recommended or not. Inthis way, a user, such as a technician or a customer, can scan thesurrounding area using the mobile computing device in order to choosethe best position and direction for the user node.

Additionally, a virtual antenna, or graphical element representing theuser node to be installed, can be overlaid on the image data depictingthe surrounding area, and an image depicting the virtual antenna as itwould look once installed can be generated and stored. This dramaticallyreduces the time needed to communicate a mockup to all involved partieswho need a visualization of the installation. Technicians can alsoquickly visualize multiple installation points and multiple installationconfigurations.

In general, according to one aspect, the invention features a system forfacilitating installation of a user node in a fixed wireless datanetwork. A mobile computing device comprises a display for presenting agraphical user interface and executes a mobile application, which usesposition information for service nodes to facilitate installation of theuser node.

In embodiments, the position information for the service nodes includesthe position of the service nodes with respect to the mobile computingdevice and/or area of coverage information for the service nodes, andthe position information is generated based on global navigationsatellite system location data for the mobile computing device.

Graphical elements representing the service nodes are displayed indifferent positions based on the position information. In one example(e.g. using a smart phone), the mobile application renders image datadepicting a surrounding area captured by a camera of the mobilecomputing device on the display with the graphical elements overlaid onthe image data in different positions with respect to regions of theimage data corresponding to positions of the service nodes. In anotherexample (e.g. using augmented reality or smart glasses), the mobileapplication superimposes the graphical elements into a field of view ofa user via the display in different positions with respect to visibleportions of the surrounding area in the field of view of the user basedon image data captured by a camera of the mobile computing device andthe position information. The different positions of the graphicalelements representing the service nodes are based on geometricinformation of the mobile computing device and an area surrounding themobile computing device. Visual characteristics of the graphicalelements representing the service nodes are based on recommendationinformation for the service nodes, which can include whether the servicenodes are recommended and/or recommended heights of installation of theuser node. The recommendation information can also be based on usageinformation for the service nodes.

In general, according to another aspect, the invention features a systemfor facilitating the installation of a user node in a fixed wirelessdata network. A mobile computing device executes a mobile applicationand renders a graphical user interface on a touchscreen display of themobile computing device. The mobile application generates geometricinformation for the mobile computing device and an area surrounding themobile computing device. The graphical user interface displays imagedata captured by a camera of the mobile computing device and displays agraphical element representing the user node in a position with respectto the image data, based on the geometric information.

In embodiments, visual characteristics of the graphical elementrepresenting the user node are based on input detected by the graphicaluser interface, and the mobile application generates and stores an imagedepicting the image data and the graphical element representing the usernode that were displayed by the graphical user interface.

In general, according to another aspect, the invention features a methodfor facilitating installation of a user node in a fixed wireless datanetwork. A mobile application executing on a mobile computing devicepresents a graphical user interface and uses position information forservice nodes to facilitate installation of the user node.

In general, according to another aspect, the invention features a methodfor facilitating the installation of a user node in a fixed wirelessdata network. A mobile application executing on a mobile computingdevice renders a graphical user interface on a touchscreen display ofthe mobile computing device and generates geometric information for themobile computing device and an area surrounding the mobile computingdevice. The graphical user interface displays image data captured by acamera of the mobile computing device and a graphical elementrepresenting the user node in a position with respect to the image data,based on the geometric information.

The above and other features of the invention including various noveldetails of construction and combinations of parts, and other advantages,will now be more particularly described with reference to theaccompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will beunderstood that the particular method and device embodying the inventionare shown by way of illustration and not as a limitation of theinvention. The principles and features of this invention may be employedin various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, reference characters refer to the sameparts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarilyto scale; emphasis has instead been placed upon illustrating theprinciples of the invention. Of the drawings:

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of an exemplary fixed wireless datanetwork to which the present invention is applicable;

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of the fixed wireless data networkaccording to an embodiment of the invention including augmented reality(AR) glasses worn by a user;

FIG. 1C is a schematic diagram of the fixed wireless data networkaccording to another embodiment in which the AR glasses operate inconjunction with a separate mobile computing device;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the mobile computing device showing itscomponent and processes of the mobile application executing on theoperating system of its central processing unit;

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating the process by which themobile application facilitates the installation of user nodes accordingto one embodiment of the current invention;

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating the process by which themobile application facilitates the installation of user nodes accordingto another embodiment of the current invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary installation of a user nodefacilitated by the mobile application, in which the premises is anapartment building;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of an exemplary menu screen of the graphicaluser interface;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of an exemplary locating screen;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of an exemplary results screen, which isdisplayed when the mobile application is unsuccessful in locating nearbyservice nodes;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of the results screen, which is displayed whenthe mobile application is successful in locating nearby service nodes;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of the results screen showing a graphicalelement representing a service node with an expanded information pane;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of the results screen showing a graphicalelement with an expanded information pane, according to an example inwhich a virtual antenna has been generated;

FIG. 12 is an illustration of an exemplary antenna type selectionscreen;

FIG. 13 is an illustration of an exemplary antenna mount type selectionscreen;

FIG. 14 is an illustration of an exemplary antenna color selectionscreen;

FIG. 15 is an illustration of an exemplary antenna position selectionscreen;

FIG. 16 is an illustration of an exemplary capture image screen;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an exemplary installation of a usernode facilitated by the mobile application executing on a mobilecomputing device, in which the premises is a single apartment unit;

FIG. 18 is an illustration of the menu screen, according to an examplein which an internet service provider customer installs the user node inan apartment unit;

FIG. 19 is an illustration of the locating screen, according to anexample in which an internet service provider customer installs the usernode in an apartment unit;

FIG. 20 is an illustration of the results screen, which is displayedwhen the mobile application is unsuccessful in locating nearby servicenodes, according to an example in which an internet service providercustomer installs the user node in an apartment unit;

FIG. 21 is an illustration of the results screen, which is displayedwhen the mobile application is successful in locating nearby servicenodes, according to an example in which an internet service providercustomer installs the user node in an apartment unit; and

FIG. 22 is an illustration of the results screen showing a graphicalelement representing a service node with an expanded information pane,according to an example in which an internet service provider customerinstalls the user node in an apartment unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which illustrativeembodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, beembodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limitedto the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and willfully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations ofone or more of the associated listed items. Further, the singular formsand the articles “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be furtherunderstood that the terms: includes, comprises, including and/orcomprising, when used in this specification, specify the presence ofstated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof. Further, it will be understood that when anelement, including component or subsystem, is referred to and/or shownas being connected or coupled to another element, it can be directlyconnected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may bepresent.

It will be understood that although terms such as “first” and “second”are used herein to describe various elements, these elements should notbe limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish oneelement from another element. Thus, an element discussed below could betermed a second element, and similarly, a second element may be termed afirst element without departing from the teachings of the presentinvention.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art andwill not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unlessexpressly so defined herein.

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of an exemplary fixed wireless datanetwork 100 to which the present invention is applicable. In general,the current invention includes a system and method for facilitating theinstallation of user nodes 115 in the fixed wireless data network 100.

The fixed wireless data network 100 includes a user node 115 to beinstalled at a premises 50 such as a home, multi dwelling unit buildingor office building, and service nodes 110-1, 110-2, 110-3, which aredistributed throughout a geographical area in the vicinity of thepremises 50, for example, at varying distances away from the premises50. Both the service nodes 110 and the user nodes 115 are installed orconstructed at fixed points and communicate wirelessly via directionalantenna systems, each of which, for example, typically covers anazimuthal arc of 10's to 100's of degrees.

In one example, the area of coverage for each service node 110 isdivided into multiple subsectors S1, S2, . . . , Sn, which aredistributed in an azimuthal fan, with the subsectors adjoining oneanother. The directional antenna systems of the service nodes 110 can bephased array antenna systems, which form transmit and receive beams thatcorrespond to each of the subsectors, among other examples.

In one example, the fixed wireless data network 100 is a subscriber oraccess network for an internet service provider (ISP), deliveringnetwork connectivity to the premises 50.

At the premises 50, a user 105 operates a mobile computing device 120.The user 105 can be an individual that is actually performing theinstallation of the user node 115 such as the homeowner, a technician ora customer of an ISP, or otherwise any individual involved with theinstallation such as a site surveyor for the ISP or a property manager,among other examples.

In the illustrated example, the mobile computing device 120 is asmartphone device. Alternatively, the mobile computing device 120 couldbe a laptop computer, tablet computer, phablet computer (i.e., a mobiledevice that is typically larger than a smart phone, but smaller than atablet), smart glasses, or augmented reality (AR) glasses, to list a fewexamples.

A mobile application 124 executing on the mobile computing device 120facilitates the installation of the user node 115 at the premises 50, ingeneral, using data available to the mobile application 124 locally(such as sensor data) and/or remotely.

The mobile application 124 communicates via a public network 114 (suchas the internet) with a network management platform 102. The networkmanagement platform 102, which includes an application server 104 and adatabase 106, maintains node information, including identificationinformation and/or location information for the service nodes 110. Thisinformation is stored in the database 106, and the application server104 receives location information for the mobile computing device 120(for example, indicating the current location of the mobile computingdevice 120) and returns node information to the mobile application 124via the public network 114. In the illustrated example, the nodeidentification and location information is listed in a node table 108 ofthe database 106.

The location information for the service nodes 110 includes informationindicating the locations of the service nodes 110 such as globalnavigation satellite system (GLASS) data (for example, GPS coordinates:longitude and latitude), and/or address information, as well asinformation indicating the areas of coverage for the service nodes 110.

FIG. 1B is a diagram of the fixed wireless data network 100 according toanother embodiment of the invention. The system is similar to thatdescribed with respect to FIG. 1A. Now, however, the mobile computingdevice 120 is specifically a set of smart glasses 120-g worn by the user105.

In one embodiment, the smart glasses 120-g include transparent lensesthrough which the user 105 views the surrounding environment, and thesmart glasses 120-g superimpose information onto the field of view ofthe user 105 using augmented reality (AR) technology. Commercialexamples of the smart glasses 120-g include the HoloLens® mixed realitysmart glasses, offered by Microsoft, and the Magic Leap One®head-mounted virtual retinal display device, offered by Magic Leap,among other examples.

In the illustrated embodiment, the smart glasses 120-g wirelesslyconnects to the public network 114 and executes the mobile application124 for facilitating the installation of the user node 115.

In another embodiment, the smart glasses 120-g are a virtual realityheadset.

FIG. 1C is a diagram of the fixed wireless data network 100 according toyet another embodiment of the invention. The system is similar to thatdescribed with respect to FIG. 1B. Now, however, the smart glasses 120-gwirelessly communicates with the smartphone mobile computing device 120through a wired or wireless communication link such as a Bluetooth link.In this embodiment, the smartphone executes the mobile application 124and connects to the public network 114, while the smart glasses 120-greceive and display data fed to it by the smartphone.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the mobile computing device 120, whichcan be the smart phone or the smart glasses 120-g. The device includes aCPU 202, a one or more displays 206, an accelerometer 228, amagnetometer 230, a gyroscope 232, a global navigation satellite system(GNSS) receiver 216, a camera 236, a WiFi/WAN wireless network interface214, and one or more antennas 226.

The CPU 212 executes firmware/operating system instructions and sendsinstructions and data to and receives data from the wireless networkinterface 214, the different sensors 228, 230, 232, the GNSS receiver234, and the display 206. Executing on typically an operating system 204of the CPU 202 are a mobile application 124, a network interface driver210, which directs the functionality of the WiFi/WAN wireless networkinterface 214, and a display driver 212, which directs the functionalityof the display 206, which, in examples, is a touchscreen display of asmart phone and/or a heads-up display of smart glasses 120-g, amongother examples.

In general, the sensors 228, 230, 232, 234 detect movement of the mobilecomputing device 120 and generate sensor data. More specifically, theaccelerometer measures the acceleration of the mobile computing device120, the magnetometer 230 measures the rotation and orientation of themobile computing device 120 with respect to an ambient magnetic field,and the gyroscope 232 measures the angular velocity of the mobilecomputing device 120.

The GNSS receiver 234 receives positioning signals from GNSS satellites(such as GPS satellites) and sends positioning signals to the CPU 202,which uses them to generate location information, which is informationabout the current location of the mobile computing device 120.

The camera 236 captures images of the area surrounding the mobilecomputing device 120 (within the camera's 236 field of view) andgenerates image data depicting the surrounding area.

In general, the wireless network interface 214 sends and receivesinformation between the mobile computing device 120 and the applicationserver 104 via the antenna 226 through a wireless communication link tothe WAN/LAN access point 116.

The mobile application 124 includes a graphical user interface (GUI)process 216, a service node locator module 218, an augmented reality(AR) module 220, a user node positioning module 222, and a virtualantenna module 224. In general, the mobile application presents the GUI208 via the display 206 and facilitates the installation of the usernode 115 using position information for the service nodes 110.

In general, the GUI process 216 renders a GUI 208 on the display 206.The GUI 208 includes a series of screens or views for displayinginformation and receiving input from the user 105, for example, bydetecting contact between the user 105 and the touchscreen display 206in certain regions of the touchscreen display 206. The GUI process 216generates graphical elements (such as icons, virtual buttons, menus,textual information) to be displayed via the GUI 208 and receives userinput indicating selections of options represented by the graphicalelements of the GUI 208.

More specifically, the GUI process 216 receives captured image datadepicting the surrounding area from the camera 236. The GUI process 216also receives icon position information indicating positions forgraphical elements to be displayed with respect to features of thesurrounding area or orientations of the user 105 with respect to thesurrounding area, node information, antenna type information (for a usernode 115 to be installed), and recommendation information. In oneexample, the GUI process 216 displays the captured image data itself(e.g. by rendering the image data on a touchscreen display 206 of asmart phone) along with graphical elements representing service nodes110 or user nodes 115 overlaid on the captured image data in differentpositions with respect to regions of the image data corresponding topositions of the service nodes based on the icon position information,with visual characteristics based on the node information, antenna typeinformation and/or the recommendation information. In another example(e.g. using the smart glasses 120-g), the GUI process 216 superimposesthe graphical elements into the field of view of the user 105 indifferent positions with respect to visible portions of the surroundingarea in the field of view of the user 105. The GUI process 216 alsoreceives input indicating changes in the position of the graphicalelements, such as rotation, and updates the visual characteristics ofthe graphical elements based on the input. Finally, the GUI process 216generates antenna snapshots, which are still images combining thecaptured image data depicting the surrounding area and the overlaidgraphical elements and sends the antenna snapshots to be stored in thedatabase 106.

The service node locator module 218 generates location information forthe mobile computing device 120, indicating the current location of themobile computing device 120 based on data from the GNSS receiver 234 andretrieves node information for nearby service nodes 110 based on thelocation information for the mobile computing device 120 by sending thelocation information to the application server 104, which retrieves thenode information from the database 106. Based on the node informationfor the nearby service nodes 110, the service node locator module 218generates relative position information (e.g. distance, direction,elevation) for the nearby service nodes 110 with respect to the currentlocation of the mobile computing device 120.

The user node positioning module 222 generates recommendationinformation, which include recommendations for installing the user node115, such as a recommended service node 110 to connect the user node 115to or a recommended height of installation of the user node 115, amongother examples. The recommendation information is generated based onnode information, relative position information for nearby service nodes110 and, for example, predetermined rules.

The AR module 220 generates icon position information for the nearbyservice nodes 110 or for the user node 115 to be installed. The iconposition information indicates positions of the graphical elementsrepresenting the service nodes 110 or user node 115 with respect to thecaptured image data itself depicting the surrounding area or withrespect to the field of view of the user 105. The icon positioninformation is generated based on relative position information fornearby service nodes 110 and geometric information about the mobilecomputing device 120 and the surrounding area. In general, the geometricinformation is generated from processing the image data depicting thesurrounding area as well as sensor data generated by sensors of themobile computing device 120. This geometric information can includeposition information for recognized features of the surrounding area,orientation information for the mobile computing device 120, and sizeinformation, among other examples. The orientation information, whichindicates the position and/or angular orientation of the mobilecomputing device 120 with respect to the surrounding area is in turnbased on sensor data such as that received from the accelerometer 228,magnetometer 230, and gyroscope 232. Other types of sensors can also beused to generate sensor data on which the geometric information isbased, including barometers, structured-light 3D scanners, and rangeimaging cameras, among other examples.

The virtual antenna module 224 generates position information for avirtual antenna, which is a graphical element specifically representingthe user node 115 to be installed. The position information for thevirtual antenna is based on the current location (for example, based onGNSS receiver data) and geometric information for the mobile computingdevice 120 and the surrounding area.

In one embodiment, the GUI 208 is rendered on a display 206 of the smartglasses 120-g exclusively or in addition to the touchscreen display 206(e.g. of a smart phone), as previously described with respect to FIGS.1B and 1C. The display 206 of the smart glasses 120-g includes anoptical head-mounted display, a transparent heads-up display and/or ARoverlay technology, capable of reflecting projected digital images aswell as allowing the user 105 to see through the lenses. For example,the smart glasses 120-g include transparent lenses through which theuser 105 directly views the surrounding area, and the display 206includes a projection system for projecting information onto the lensesand into a visual field of the user 105. The smart glasses 120-g alsoinclude one or more cameras 236, and the image data captured by thecamera 236 corresponds with and roughly depicts the surrounding areawithin a natural field of view of the user 105 (e.g. the same areavisible through the transparent lenses of the glasses). Portions of theGUI 208 are projected onto the lenses of the glasses in differentpositions corresponding to visible features of the surrounding area,based on the image data captured by the camera 236, or based onorientation information for the smart glasses 120-g. More specifically,the GUI process 216 projects the graphical elements onto the lenses ofthe smart glasses 120-g via the projection system of the display 206such that the graphical elements are overlaid on the natural field ofview of the user 105 in different positions based on the icon positioninformation generated by the AR module 220. One or more sensors,including the accelerometer 228, magnetometer 230, gyroscope 232, and/orGNSS receiver 234 are incorporated into the smart glasses 120-g, forexample, to detect the movement and orientation of the user 105 wearingthe smart glasses 120-g.

In one example, the smart glasses 120-g incorporating the display 206work in conjunction with a separate mobile computing device 120, aspreviously described with respect to FIG. 1C. For example, the sensors228, 230, 232, 234 and camera 236 on the glasses generate the sensordata and image data, which are sent to the smartphone mobile computingdevice 120 to be processed by the GUI process 216, AR module 220 andvirtual antenna module 224 executing on the CPU 202 of the smartphonemobile computing device 120. The smartphone feeds the icon positioninformation to the smart glasses 120-g along with any other informationnecessary for projecting the GUI 208 onto the lenses.

In another example, the entirety of the mobile computing device 120,including the components illustrated in FIG. 2, are integrated into thesmart glasses 120-g to form a single physical unit, as depicted in FIG.1B.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating the process by which themobile application 124 facilitates the installation of user nodes 115 inthe fixed wireless data network 100 according to one embodiment of thecurrent invention.

In step 400, the GUI process 216 displays a menu for the user 105 andreceives a selection for the service node 110 locator feature of themobile application 124 via the GUI 208 rendered on the display 206 instep 402.

In step 403, the GUI process 216 sends instructions to the service nodelocator module 218 to activate.

In step 404, the service node locator module 218 receives data from theGNSS receiver 234 and generates location information for the mobilecomputing device 120 indicating the current location of the mobilecomputing device 120. In step 406, the service node locator module 218sends the location information to the database 106 via the applicationserver 104, and the database 106 returns node information in step 408for nearby service nodes, including location information for the servicenodes 110, based on the location information for the mobile computingdevice 120.

In step 410, the service node locator module 218 generates relativeposition information (e.g. distance, direction, elevation) for nearbyservice nodes 110 with respect to the current location of the mobilecomputing device 120.

In step 412, the service node locator module 218 sends the nodeinformation and the relative position information to the user nodepositioning module 222, which, in step 414, generates recommendationinformation based on the node information and the relative positioninformation. Examples of the recommendation include a recommendedservice node 110 to connect to (and thus to physically orient the usernode 115 toward) and a recommended height of installation for the usernode 115.

In step 416, the service node locator module 218 also sends the nodeinformation and relative position information for the nearby servicenodes 110 to the AR module 220. The AR module 220 retrieves the sensordata from the accelerometer 228, magnetometer 230 and gyroscope 232 andimage data from the camera in step 418. In step 420, the AR module 220generates geometric information for the mobile computing device 120based on the sensor data and the image data and then generates iconposition information for the nearby service nodes 110 based on thegeometric information and the relative position information. In step422, the AR module 220 sends the icon position information, nodeinformation and relative position information for the nearby servicenodes 110 to the GUI process 216.

In step 424, the GUI process 216 also receives the recommendationinformation from the user node positioning module 222, and in step 424,the GUI process 216 receives captured image data from the camera 236depicting the surrounding area.

In step 426, the GUI process 216 displays the captured image datadepicting the surrounding area with graphical elements representing thenearby service nodes 110 overlaid on the image data in differentpositions with respect to the image data based on the icon positioninformation and with visual characteristics based on the nodeinformation and the recommendation information.

At this point, the user 105 uses the mobile computing device 120 to viewthe surrounding area in several different directions in order to decide,based on the positions and visual characteristics of the graphicalelements representing the service nodes 110, where to install the usernode 115. In this way, the mobile application facilitates theinstallation of the user node 115.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating the process by which themobile application 124 facilitates the installation of user nodes 115 inthe fixed wireless data network 100 according to another embodiment ofthe current invention.

In step 500, the GUI process 216 displays a menu for the user 105 andreceives a selection for the virtual antenna feature of the mobileapplication 124 in step 502 as well as input indicating antenna typeinformation for the user node 115 to be installed via the GUI 208rendered on the display 206.

In step 503, the GUI process 216 sends instructions to the virtualantenna module 224 to generate a new virtual antenna based on theantenna type information.

In step 504, the virtual antenna module 224 retrieves GNSS receiver dataand sensor data from the accelerometer 228, magnetometer 230 andgyroscope 232 in order to generate position information for the newlygenerated virtual antenna. In one example, the virtual antenna module224 generates position information indicating the current location ofthe mobile computing device 120 as the position of the virtual antenna.In step 508, the virtual antenna module 224 sends the antenna typeinformation and position information for the virtual antenna to the ARmodule 220.

In step 510, the AR module 220 retrieves sensor data from theaccelerometer 228, magnetometer 230 and gyroscope 232 and image datafrom the camera. In step 512, the AR module 220 generates geometricinformation for the mobile computing device 120 and relative positioninformation for the mobile computing device 120 with respect to thevirtual antenna, based on the sensor data and image data. The AR module220 then generates icon position information based on the geometricinformation and relative position information. In step 514, the ARmodule 220 sends the icon position information and antenna typeinformation for the virtual antenna to the GUI process 216.

The GUI process 216, in step 516, retrieves captured image datadepicting the surrounding area from the camera 236. In step 518, the GUIprocess 216 displays the captured image data with a graphical elementrepresenting the virtual antenna with visual characteristics based onthe antenna type information. The graphical element representing thevirtual antenna is overlaid on the image data in different positionswith respect to the image data based on the icon position information.

In step 520, the GUI process 216 receives input via the GUI 208 and thetouchscreen display 206 indicating movement (for example, rotation) ofthe virtual antenna.

In step 522, the GUI process 216 updates the visual characteristics ofthe graphical element representing the virtual antenna based on theinput received in step 520.

In step 524, the GUI process generates an antenna snapshot, whichincludes the captured image data depicting the surrounding area combinedwith the graphical element overlaid on the image data representing thevirtual antenna. In step 526, the GUI process 216 stores the antennasnapshot in the database 106.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary installation of a user node115 facilitated by the mobile application 124, in which the premises 50is an apartment building. In the illustrated example, the user 105 is atechnician installing a user node 115 on the roof of the apartmentbuilding. The technician 105 uses the mobile computing device 120 toscan the horizon to locate service nodes 110 in the area surrounding theapartment building 50. Using the GPS coordinates of the mobile computingdevice 120 and the service nodes 110, the mobile application 124presents to the technician 105 a graphical representation of wherenearby service nodes 110 are located (their position relative to theuser 105, including distance and altitude), which in turn facilitatesthe process of determining an optimal location for the user node 115 aswell as an optimal orientation (toward a particular service node 110).

FIGS. 6-16 and 18-22 are illustrations of exemplary screens or views ofthe GUI 208. In general, the screens/views include graphical elementssuch as icons, virtual buttons, textual information, and menus forpresenting information and receiving input from the user 105. Selectionof the virtual buttons, for example, is indicated by the touchscreendisplay 206 detecting contact (for example, from the user's 105 finger)in regions of the touchscreen display 206 containing the virtualbuttons. Other input is indicated by the touchscreen display 206detecting other gestures such as dragging or swiping.

In one example, the illustrations of FIGS. 6-16 and 18-22 depict screensthat are rendered by the GUI process 216 on the touchscreen display 206of the mobile computing device 120 during the installation process. Inthis case, in general, the screens include captured image data depictingthe surrounding environment in the background, and the GUI 208 includesthe graphical elements overlaid on the background image data.

In another example, the illustrations of FIGS. 6-16 and 18-22 depictdifferent views through lenses of the smart glasses 120-g. Here, thefield of view of the user 105 is analogous to the background image datarendered on the touchscreen display 206 in the previous example. Insteadof, or in addition to, viewing the depiction of the surrounding arearendered on the display 206, the user 105 directly views the surroundingenvironment through the lenses of the smart glasses 120-g, and the GUI208 includes the graphical elements superimposed or projected into thefield of view of the user 105 by the display 206.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of an exemplary menu screen 600-1 showing theselection of the antenna position locator feature. The menu screen 600-1includes an antenna position locator button 602-1, a place virtualantenna button 604 and an enter service notes 606 button. In theillustrated example, the antenna position locator button 602-1 isselected.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of an exemplary locating screen 700, which isdisplayed when the position locator button 602 is selected on the menuscreen 600. The locating screen 700 includes a background that spans theentire area of the screen and includes real time image data captured bythe camera 236 depicting the area surrounding the mobile computingdevice 120 within a current field of view of the camera 236. Overlaid onthe image data background is textual information indicating that themobile application 124 is in the process of locating nearby servicenodes 110. In the illustrated example, the captured image data depicts acorner of the roof of the apartment building 50 as well as thesurrounding area that is visible from the current location of the mobilecomputing device 120, including rooftops of other buildings and trees.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of an exemplary results screen 800, which isdisplayed when the mobile application 124 completes the process oflocating nearby service nodes 110. As before, the results screen 800includes a background that spans the entire area of the screen andincludes real time captured image data depicting the area surroundingthe mobile computing device 120. In the illustrated example, no nearbyservice nodes 110 have been located. As a result, overlaid on the imagedata background is textual information indicating that no service nodes110 have been located and that service is not available in the area.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of the results screen 800, which is displayedwhen the mobile application 124 is successful in locating nearby servicenodes 110. Here, the results screen 800 includes textual informationindicating that service is available in the area and the number ofservice nodes 110 that were determined to be nearby, graphical elements802 representing nearby service nodes 110, and graphical elementsindicating directions, with respect to the current orientation of themobile computing device 120, in which additional service nodes 110 thatare not currently in the field of view of the camera 236 (and thus notdisplayed) can be found.

In general, the graphical elements 802 representing the nearby servicenodes 110 include icons 806 as well as information panes 804 whichinclude textual information. The position of the graphical elements 802with respect to the background image data is based on the geometricinformation for the mobile computing device 120 and the surrounding areaas well as the relative position information for the nearby servicenodes 110. The visual characteristics of the icons 806 and the textualinformation in the information panes 804 are based on the nodeinformation and recommendation information associated with the servicenodes 110 represented by the graphical elements 802.

In the illustrated example, textual information indicates that serviceis available in the area surrounding the premises 50 and that a total of6 service nodes 110 have been located. Three of the service nodes 110are represented by graphical elements 802-1, 802-2, 802-3 currentlydisplayed. Textual information indicates that two additional servicenodes 110 would become visible if the mobile computing device 120 isrotated in the counterclockwise direction (or toward the left), and oneadditional service node 110 would become visible if the mobile computingdevice 120 is rotated in the clockwise direction (or toward the right).The three graphical elements 802 are in different horizontal andvertical positions with respect to the background image data, and moreparticularly, the horizon depicted in the background image data, basedon the different relative distances and elevations of the service nodes110 represented by the graphical elements 802 with respect to the mobilecomputing device 120.

The first graphical element 802-1 includes an icon 806-1 resembling anantenna tower as well as an information pane 804-1 including textualinformation indicating that the associated service node 110 has a nameof “Beam1”, a distance of three miles from the current location of themobile computing device, an elevation of 15 degrees, and medium usage.

The second graphical element 802-2 has similar features. However, theantenna icon 806-2 includes an X, indicating that the service node 110is not recommended. Similarly, the textual information in theinformation pane 804-2 indicates that the distance of the service node110 from the mobile computing device 120 is 20 miles, the usage level ishigh, and the service node 110 is not recommended.

The third graphical element 802-3 likewise has similar features to thefirst graphical element 802-1. However, now the textual information inthe information pane 804-3 indicates that the distance of the servicenode 110 from the mobile computing device 120 is only 500 feet, theusage level is low, and the service node 110 is recommended.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of the results screen 800 showing a graphicalelement 802-3 with an expanded information pane 804-3, which isdisplayed when the graphical element 802-3 is selected. The expandedinformation pane 804-3 now includes additional information includingtextual information indicating a recommended height of installation ofthe user node 115, graphical and textual information indicating that thecurrent orientation of the mobile computing device 120 is optimal, aswell as an image of a map indicating the current location of the mobilecomputing device 120 and the location of the service node 110represented by the graphical element 802-3. Also included is a placevirtual antenna button 1000, which indicates that a virtual antennashould be placed at the current location of the mobile computing device120.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of the results screen 800 showing a graphicalelement 802-3 with an expanded information pane 804-3, which isdisplayed when the place virtual antenna button 1000 is selected. Here,instead of the place virtual antenna button 1000, a virtual antennastatus indicator 1100 is included, indicating that the virtual antennahas been generated for the current location. Also included are a clearvirtual antenna button 1102 and a capture image of virtual antennabutton 1104.

FIG. 12 is an illustration of an exemplary antenna type selection screen1200, which is displayed when the capture image of virtual antennabutton 1104 is selected on the results screen 800. In general, theantenna type selection screen 1200 prompts the user to select from apredetermined set of antenna types, which will determine the visualcharacteristics of the virtual antenna in the antenna snapshot. Includedare three antenna type buttons 1202 indicating Antenna Type 1, AntennaType 2, and Antenna Type 3.

FIG. 13 is an illustration of an exemplary antenna mount type selectionscreen 1300, which is displayed when any one of the antenna type buttons1202 is selected on the antenna type selection screen 1200. In general,the antenna mount type selection screen 1300 prompts the user to selectfrom a predetermined set of antenna mount types, which will determinethe visual characteristics of the virtual antenna in the antennasnapshot. Included are three antenna mount type buttons 1302 indicatingMount Type 1, Mount Type 2, and Mount Type 3.

FIG. 14 is an illustration of an exemplary antenna color selectionscreen 1400 which is displayed when any one of the antenna mount typebuttons 1302 is selected on the antenna mount type selection screen1300. In general, the antenna color selection screen 1400 prompts theuser to select from a predetermined set of antenna colors, which willdetermine the visual characteristics of the virtual antenna in theantenna snapshot. Included are three antenna color buttons 1402indicating black, white, and charcoal.

FIG. 15 is an illustration of an exemplary antenna position selectionscreen 1500, which is displayed when any one of the antenna colorbuttons 1402 is selected on the antenna color selection screen 1400. Ingeneral, the antenna position selection screen 1500 prompts the user tochange the position of a virtual antenna icon 1502, which will determinethe visual characteristics of the virtual antenna depicted in theantenna snapshot. In the illustrated example, an arrow indicates thatthe virtual antenna can be rotated clockwise or counter clockwise, forexample, by the touchscreen display 206 detecting a gesture such as theuser 105 dragging their finger in a circular motion in the region of thedisplay 206 containing or in the vicinity of the virtual antenna icon1502. The visual characteristics of the virtual antenna icon 1502 areadjusted in real time based on the input from the user 105. Alsoincluded is a continue button 1504.

FIG. 16 is an illustration of an exemplary capture image screen 1600,which is displayed when the continue button 1404 is selected on theantenna position selection screen 1500. In general, the capture imagescreen 1600 displays a representation of the antenna snapshot depictingthe virtual antenna that will be stored, and the current visualcharacteristics and position of the virtual antenna icon 1502, based onselections made in the antenna type selection screen 1200, antenna mounttype selection screen 1300, antenna color selection screen 1400, andantenna position selection screen 1500. Also included is a capture imagebutton 1602. When the capture image button 1602 is selected, a stillimage combining the background image data and the virtual antenna icon1502 will be generated and stored in the database 106.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an exemplary installation of a usernode 115 facilitated by the mobile application 124, in which thepremises 50 is a single apartment unit. In the illustrated example, theuser 105 is an ISP customer 105 installing a user node 115, which is awindow antenna, in their apartment. The user 105 uses the mobilecomputing device 120 to scan the horizon to locate service nodes 110 inthe area surrounding the apartment 50. Using the GPS coordinates of themobile computing device 120 and the service nodes 110, the mobileapplication 124 allows the user 105 to see a graphical representation ofwhere nearby service nodes 110 are located (their position relative tothe user 105, including distance and altitude), which in turnfacilitates the process of determining an optimal location, such as aspecific window or side of the home, for the user node 115 as well as anoptimal orientation (toward a particular service node 110).

FIG. 18 is an illustration of the menu screen 600-2, according to anexample in which an ISP customer 105 installs the user node 115 in anapartment unit. The menu screen 600-2 includes an antenna positionlocator button 602-2 and a contact technical support button 1804. In theillustrated example, the antenna position locator button 602-2 isselected.

FIG. 19 is an illustration of the locating screen 700, which isdisplayed when the antenna position locator button 602 is selected,according to an example in which an ISP customer 105 installs the usernode 115 in an apartment unit. In the illustrated example, the capturedimage data depicts an interior of an apartment, including threedifferent walk with windows.

FIG. 20 is an illustration of the results screen 800, which is displayedwhen the mobile application 124 completes the process of locating nearbyservice nodes 110, according to an example in which an ISP customer 105installs the user node 115 in an apartment unit. As before, in theillustrated example, no nearby service nodes 110 have been located. As aresult, overlaid on the image data background is textual informationindicating that no service nodes 110 have been located and that serviceis not available in the area.

FIG. 21 is an illustration of the results screen 800, which is displayedwhen the mobile application 124 is successful in locating nearby servicenodes 110, according to an example in which an ISP customer 105 installsthe user node 115 in an apartment unit. Here, the results screen 800includes textual information and graphical elements 802 representingnearby service nodes 110 overlaid on the background image data depictingthe interior of the apartment unit.

FIG. 22 is an illustration of the results screen 800 showing a graphicalelement 802-3 with an expanded information pane 804-3, according to anexample in which an ISP customer 105 installs the user node 115 in anapartment unit. Here, the expanded information pane 804-3 now includesadditional information indicating that a recommended window forinstallation of the user node 115 has been detected. Also included is awindow selection graphic 2200 overlaid on a region of the backgroundimage data depicting the recommended window.

In some embodiments, the AR module 220 of the mobile application 124includes an image analytics capability. This image analytics capabilityis able to recognize and identify objects of interest within the imagescaptured by the camera 236 of the mobile computing device 120. In oneexample, these objects include the windows. As a result, the mobileapplication is able to identify windows within the captured images fromthe camera and then highlight any windows with bounding boxes, forexample. In one example, a bounding box is used to highlight the windowthat the application 124 determines would be the best window in which toinstall the user node 115.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described withreferences to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the scope of the inventionencompassed by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for facilitating installation of a usernode in a fixed wireless data network, the system comprising: a mobilecomputing device for executing a mobile application, the mobilecomputing device comprising a display for presenting a graphical userinterface, the mobile application using position information for servicenodes to facilitate installation of the user node; wherein the fixedwireless data network includes user nodes installed at premises andservice nodes distributed throughout a geographical area at varyingdistances from the premises, and the user node for which the mobileapplication facilitates installation is to be installed at a premises.2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the position informationfor the service nodes includes the position of the service nodes withrespect to the mobile computing device.
 3. The system as claimed inclaim 2, wherein the position information is generated based on globalnavigation satellite system location data for the mobile computingdevice.
 4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positioninformation for the service nodes includes area of coverage informationfor the service nodes.
 5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein thedisplay presents graphical elements representing the service nodes indifferent positions based on the position information.
 6. The system asclaimed in claim 5, wherein the mobile application renders image datadepicting a surrounding area captured by a camera of the mobilecomputing device on the display with graphical elements overlaid on theimage data in different positions with respect to regions of the imagedata corresponding to positions of the service nodes.
 7. The system asclaimed in claim 5, wherein the mobile application superimposes thegraphical elements into a field of view of a user via the display indifferent positions with respect to visible portions of the surroundingarea in the field of view of the user based on image data captured by acamera of the mobile computing device and the position information. 8.The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the different positions of thegraphical elements representing the service nodes are based on geometricinformation of the mobile computing device and an area surrounding themobile computing device.
 9. The system as claimed in claim 5, whereinvisual characteristics of the graphical elements representing theservice nodes are based on recommendation information for the servicenodes.
 10. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the recommendationinformation includes whether the service nodes are recommended and/orrecommended heights of installation of the user node.
 11. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the mobile application uses the position informationfor the service nodes to facilitate the installation of the user node byproviding recommendation information for the service nodes.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the recommendation information is based onusage information for the service nodes.
 13. The system of claim 11,wherein the recommendation information includes whether service nodesare recommended and/or recommended heights of installation of the usernode.
 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile application uses theposition information for the service nodes to facilitate theinstallation of the user node by providing location information fornearby service nodes.
 15. The system of claim 1, wherein the user nodesand service nodes of the fixed wireless data network are installed atfixed points and communicate wirelessly via directional antenna systems.16. A system for facilitating the installation of a user node in a fixedwireless data network, the system comprising: a mobile computing devicefor executing a mobile application and rendering a graphical userinterface on a touchscreen display of the mobile computing device, themobile application generating geometric information for the mobilecomputing device and an area surrounding the mobile computing device,and the graphical user interface displaying image data captured by acamera of the mobile computing device and displaying a graphical elementrepresenting the user node in a position with respect to the image data,based on the geometric information; the mobile application usingposition information for service nodes to facilitate installation of theuser node, and wherein fixed wireless data network includes user nodesinstalled at premises and service nodes distributed throughout ageographical area at varying distances from the premises, and the usernode for which the mobile application facilitates installation is to beinstalled at a premises.
 17. The system as claimed in claim 16, whereinvisual characteristics of the graphical element representing the usernode are based on input detected by the graphical user interface. 18.The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the mobile applicationgenerates and stores an image depicting the image data and the graphicalelement representing the user node that were displayed by the graphicaluser interface.
 19. The system of claim 16, wherein the image datacaptured by the camera and displayed by the graphical user interfacedepicts the surrounding area, and the graphical element representing theuser node is a virtual antenna overlaid on the displayed image data. 20.The system of claim 19, wherein the mobile application generates andstores an image depicting the virtual antenna as it would look onceinstalled.
 21. A method for facilitating installation of a user node ina fixed wireless data network, the method comprising: a mobileapplication executing on a mobile computing device presenting agraphical user interface and using position information for servicenodes to facilitate installation of the user node; wherein the fixedwireless data network includes user nodes installed at premises andservice nodes distributed throughout a geographical area at varyingdistances from the premises, and the user node for which the mobileapplication facilitates installation is to be installed at a premises.22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the position informationfor the service nodes includes the position of the service nodes withrespect to the mobile computing device.
 23. The method as claimed inclaim 22, further comprising generating the position information basedon global navigation satellite system location data for the mobilecomputing device.
 24. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein theposition information for the service nodes includes area of coverageinformation for the service nodes.
 25. The method as claimed in claim21, further comprising displaying graphical elements representing theservice nodes in different positions based on the position information.26. The method as claimed in claim 25, further comprising renderingimage data depicting a surrounding area captured by a camera of themobile computing device on a display of the mobile computing device withthe graphical elements overlaid on the image data in different positionswith respect to regions of the image data corresponding to positions ofthe service nodes.
 27. The method as claimed in claim 25, furthercomprising superimposing the graphical elements into a field of view ofa user in different positions with respect to visible portions of thesurrounding area in the field of view of the user based on image datacaptured by a camera of the mobile computing device and the positioninformation.
 28. The method as claimed in claim 25, further comprisingdisplaying the graphical elements representing the service nodes indifferent positions based on geometric information of the mobilecomputing device and an area surrounding the mobile computing device.29. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein visual characteristics ofthe graphical elements representing the service nodes are based onrecommendation information for the service nodes.
 30. The method asclaimed in claim 29, wherein the recommendation information includeswhether the service nodes are recommended and/or recommended heights ofinstallation of the user node.
 31. A system for facilitatinginstallation of a user node in a fixed wireless data network, the systemcomprising: a mobile computing device for executing a mobileapplication, the mobile computing device comprising a display forpresenting a graphical user interface, the mobile application usingposition information for service nodes to facilitate installation of theuser node; wherein the display presents graphical elements representingthe service nodes in different positions based on the positioninformation, visual characteristics of the graphical elementsrepresenting the service nodes are based on recommendation informationfor the service nodes, and the recommendation information is based onusage information for the service nodes.
 32. A method for facilitatinginstallation of a user node in a fixed wireless data network, the methodcomprising: a mobile application executing on a mobile computing devicepresenting a graphical user interface and using position information forservice nodes to facilitate installation of the user node; anddisplaying graphical elements representing the service nodes indifferent positions based on the position information, and whereinvisual characteristics of the graphical elements representing theservice nodes are based on recommendation information for the servicenodes and the recommendation information is based on usage informationfor the service nodes.